Lockdown lifted at 2 North Port schools

Authorities are searching for a man who threatened to harm a North Port woman and her two children.

SHELBY WEBB

Two schools went on lockdown Friday after a fugitive considered armed and dangerous allegedly threatened his girlfriend and her two children, who attend North Port schools.

North Port High School and Heron Creek Middle School, which are across from each other on West Price Boulevard, both went into limited lockdowns from about 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m.

No one was injured and there were no reported incidents related to the lockdowns.

The suspect remains at large.

The two schools chose to go on lockdown after Putnam County Sheriff's deputies called the North Port Police Department and said that Stonie Shane Harris, 36, may be en route to the city to attack his girlfriend and her children.

Harris allegedly told the woman that he was traveling from Putnam County to North Port at 9 a.m. to physically harm her and her children, who go to North Port High School.

North Port High School and Heron Creek Middle School voluntarily went into a Code White lockdown after hearing of the threats.

A Code White lockdown is more limited than a Code Red lockdown. Although teachers are instructed to close and lock their doors, they are also told to continue teaching as normal.

There was no sign of Harris by the time the lockdown ended at 2:15 p.m. Police said they are protecting the family should Harris show up.

Authorities say that Harris is driving either a gray Nissan Altima with a Florida-specialty "Gone Fishing" tag (LA6FD) or a blue Chevy Tahoe with a Florida tag (BJW L55).

Harris has balding, gray hair and is about 6-feet-2.

Police said that they cannot confirm whether Harris is heading toward North Port, but they said he is considered armed and dangerous.

Police said that anyone who believes they see Harris should not approach him. Instead, call the North Port Police Department at (941)429-7300.

EARLIER: Police said they received a report from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office that a suspect could be headed to North Port to target his former girlfriend and her two children, both of whom attend North Port High School.

After receiving this information, the high school decided to go on lock down. The lock down began at 1:10 p.m. and ended when school was over at 2:15 p.m.

The suspect was not seen in the area.

Police will release more information later today.

Check back at HeraldTribune.com for more on this developing story.

EARLIER: North Port High School went on lockdown at 1:10 p.m. today. The lockdown was lifted when school ended at 2:15 p.m.

Attempts to reach police were unsuccessful, but students at the school said they were told the lock down came as a precaution because there was a domestic incident nearby.

D.K. Archer, a sophomore, said students at first thought it was a drill. Doors were locked and students were not allowed to leave, but classes continued.